Electric safety switch



y 7, 1935. V c. D. HEPLER 2,000,231

ELECTRIC SAFETY SWITCH Filed June 21, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR 65 270 flap/ax A TTORNE Y 5 plurality of switch blades are mounted for side- Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES. PATIENT OFFICE 2,000,231 ELECTRIC SAFETY SWITCH Carroll D. Hepler, Seattle, Wash, assignor to Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Pacific Division, Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application June 21, 1933, Serial No. 676,907 10 Claims. (Cl. 200-46) My invention relates to an electric safety switch Fig. '7 is a diagram showing another method of and cabinet box therefor and the general object wiring this switch to make a reversing switch out of my invention is to provide a multiple throw, of it.

double break, electric safety switch in which a Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modified form of this switch in which the cover is hinged and fuse members are provided in connection with the switch. I i

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the switch shown in Fig. 8, parts being broken away.

' Fig. 10 is a diagram showing one method of wiring up a switch of the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating a method of wiring up a switch of this type in which three sets of contacts are provided.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive I show an electric safety switch and receptacle therefor embodying a cabinet box l2 having two cover sections 13 and I4 secured thereto by screws IS.

A base l6 of insulating material is disposed within the cabinet box l2 and secured as by screws H to the bottom of said cabinet box. A plurality of forked spring terminal clips or jaws l8 are secured at spaced apart intervals to the insulating base l6. These spring terminal clips I8 are arranged in pairs with the two clips of each pair in alignment to facilitate the reception therebetween of switch blades of a form hereinafter described. In Figs. 1 to '7 I have shown twelve of these spring terminal clips 18 arranged in two rows with six clips in each row and the respective clips of the two rows aligned with each other. The clips ll! of one row are preferably each separately and independently connected with a suitable fitting l9 to which a circuit wire may be attached. The clips 18 of the other row are preferably connected together in sets of two each by conductor elements 2! and cross yokes 22 and each cross yoke 22 has a fitting is to which a circuit wire may be attached. This arrangement provides for the connection of three wires 23 of a circuit with the clips I8 of one row and for the connection of two sets 24 and 25 of three wires each to the clips 18 of the other row as shown in Fig. 6.

The blade mechanism for electrically connectingthe clips l8 of one row with the clips 18 of the other row is in the nature of a cross bar 26 of insulatingmaterial having three transverse switch blades 21, 28 and 29 connected therewith, said switch blades being positioned in grooves as at 30 in the bar 26 and being secured to the bar wise shifting movement relative to a plurality of terminal clips whereby electrical connection may be selectively established between different sets of terminal clips.

Another object is to provide a multiple throw switch of this nature in which a breaking of the circuit when the switch is moved to open position occurs at two points on each blade thus increasing the breaking speed, and reducing the voltage drop at the location of each break and reducing arcing.

Another object is to provide a multiple throw switch of this nature which may be opened and closed and moved into a plurality of difierent positions without opening the cabinet box and which is further adapted to be wired in various different ways whereby numerous difierent circuits may be opened and closed thereby.

Another object is to provide a multiple throw switch of this nature in which the switch blades and operating mechanism therefor are carried on a plate which is slidably mounted on the inner side of the cover plate of the cabinet box.

Other objects are to provide safety means for preventing access to the cabinet box when the switch is closed and for preventing operation of the switch opening and closing means except when the switch blades and operating means therefor are in the correct positions.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of an electric safety switch and cabinet box constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same substantially on broken line 2--2 of Fig. 1, parts being shown in elevation and the switch being shown closed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially on broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the switch being shown in open circuit position.-

Figs. 4 and 5 are two sectional views substantially on broken lines 4-4 and.5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the switch blade mechanism closed in Fig. 4 and open in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a plan view looking down into the cabinet box as it may appear when the cover plates and switch blades and carriage mechanism is removed, one method of connecting the switch with circuit wires being shown diagrammatically.

26 by screws 3| which screw into nuts 32 that are positioned in notches 33 in the switch blades, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3. The switch blades 21, 28 and 29 are spaced apart on the bar 26 an amount equal to the spacing of the spring clips l8 whereby said three switch blades 21, 28 and 29 may be caused simultaneously to engage and electrically connect three pairs of said spring clips 48 when the bar 26 is moved toward the clips 48 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The bar 26 is provided with two tubular guide members 34 which are slidable on guide posts 35.

The guide posts 35 are fixedly secured to a slidable plate 36 which is positioned in contact with the inner side of the cover member 43 and is guided for sliding movement transversely of the cabinet box by guide members 31. The slidable plate 36 serves as a closing member for an opening 40 in the cover section I3 and has a slot 4i provided therein.

The operating mechanism for the switch blades is also carried on this sliding plate and is movable along with the plate 36 and switch blades to shift the switch blades sidewise into alignment with different sets of spring clips l8. This operating mechanism may consist of a lever 42 connected by a pivot 43 with a bracket 44 of U shaped cross section. The bracket 44 together with washers 45 and a fiat spacer bar 46 are secured to the sliding plate 36 as by screws 41 in such a manner that the bracket 44 and all parts connected therewith'including the sliding plate 36 and switch blades 21 may be moved sidewise. The opening 46 in the cover section l3 allows movement of parts 44 and 46 and this movement is limited by engagement of the part 46 with the portions of the cover which form the sides of the opening.

The insulating bar 26 which carries the switch blades is connected by a bracket member 50 with the angular inner end of a link 5|. The link 5| extends through plate 36, spacer member 46 and bracket 44 and is connected by a pivot 52 with a shorter forked lever 53 which is mounted on the main lever 42 and fulcrumed on the pivot 43. A compression spring 55 is interposed between the shorter lever 53 and a shoulder 56 of an offset portion 51 which is formed on the main lever 42. The spring 55 and shorter lever 53 cooperate with the main lever 42 and link 51 to form means by which a quick break movement may be imparted to the switch when it is opened. A plate 58 of insulating material of substantial size is preferably interposed between the insulating bar 26 and the bracket member 50 and a metal plate may be provided between the bracket 50 and plate 58 for the inner end of the link 56 tothrust against. The connection between the end of the link 5i and the bracket member 50 is formed by bending the tip of the link sharply and affords a substantial amount of lost motion and allows some freedom of movement of the several connected parts. The nuts 32 and screws 3i which connect the switch blades to the bar '25 also allow some lost motion to the blades thus permitting them to find their correct position without binding.

The oifset portion 51 on the pivoted end of the lever 32 has a hole El through which any suitable instrument, as the shackle of a padlock, may be inserted to lock the lever 42 in a folded po-- sition. This ofiset portion 51 is preferably curved to clear the bracket 44 and preferably has positioning cams 62 on each side thereof. A relatively fixed stop member 63, herein disclosed as an outwardly projecting plate, is provided on the cover adjacent the rear edge of the bracket 44 but just clear of said bracket. A notch 64 aifording clearance for the offset portion 51 of the lever arm may be provided mid way between the two ends of the stopmember 63.

When the lever 42 is moved outwardly into the open switch position, as shown in Fig. 3, the offset portion 5! of said lever will be clear of the stop member 63 and the sliding plate 36 and parts connected therewith may be moved sidewise, it being apparent that in the open switch position the switch blades 21, 28 and 29 will be clear of the spring clips I 8 and free to move. When the lever 42 is at the limit of its movement toward one side of the opening 40, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 or is at the limit of its movement toward the other side of the opening 40, as shown in Fig. 5 then the offset portion 51 of said lever will be clear of the adjacent end of the stop member 63 and the lever 42 may be moved into the folded or closed switch position. shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the event the carriage has been shifted but stopped a slight distance short of the proper position then the cams 62 may engage with the ends of the stop member 63 as the lever 42 is moved toward the closed switch position and will complete the sidewise movement necessary to properly align the switch blades with the spring clips 48.

When the switch lever 42 is mid way between the two sides of the opening 40 the offset portion 51 will be aligned with the switch 64 in the stop member 63 and the lever 42 may be folded into an out of the way position substantially parallel with the cover with the switch open and the switch blades all clear of all of the clips 18. While the lever 42 is in this folded position it can not be moved sidewise and accidental closing of any of the circuits without first swinging the lever 42 outwardly is prevented. If anattempt is made to fold the switch lever 42 when said switch lever 42 is in any position except at one side or the other of the opening 40, or in the mid position relative to said opening 46, as above described, then the rear portion of the offset 51 of said switch lever will strike against the stop member 63 and prevent folding of said switch lever.

One 'of the guide members 31 is preferably welded to the edge of the cover section l3 and extends under the edge of the cover section l4 thereby reinforcing and supporting both cover sections at this point and closing any opening which might be left between the two adjacent edges of the cover sections.

Fig. 7 shows one method of connecting this switch with a motor 49 so that the switch may. be

used for reversing the motor.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 I have shown a switch of this type in which fuse members 66 are provided in connection with the spring clips l8, it being understood that these fuse members may be used or omitted as conditions may demand. Figs. 8 and 9 also show two cover sections 13' and [4 as connected with each other by hinges 61 whereby one of said cover sections may be opened like a door. To prevent opening of either of said cover sections l3 or I4 when the switch is cl sed I provide two cam elements 68 and 69 which are secured to the cover portion l4 and disposed in alignment with the offset portion 51 on the lever 42 when said lever is in closed switch position whereby if an attempt is made to open either of the cover members the offset lever portion 51 will strike against one of the cam ele- -ments 6!! or 69 and the cover member can not be opened. This is a safety feature which prevents access to the interior of the cabinet at all times when the switch is closed. One of the cover members l3 or l4 will ordinarily be fixed- 1y secured to the cabinet box in this type of construction.

In Fig. 10 I have shown, diagrammatically, one method of connecting Figs. 8 and 9 in a circuit so that current supplied through wires 10 may flow through the switch and through a meter 1| or like instrument to wires while current from wires the switch to the same wires 13 may flow through 12 without flowing through the meter 1| for another setting of the switch.

Fig. 11 shows diagrammatically a switch of this type in which the terminal clips I! are arranged in sets of threes instead of in sets of twos. In this type of switch the blade carriage has three different closed switch positions in each of which positions the switch blades electrically connect different pairs of terminal clips. In this view the carriage is shown somewhat diagrammatically with the switch blades 21, 2B, and 29 electrically connecting the left hand terminal clips of each set. By moving this carriage to the right it may be made to connect either the medial terminal clips or the right hand terminal clips. This makes it possible to selectively close the switch between one set of circuit wires 15 on one side and any desired one of three sets of circuit wires l6, l1 and I8 on the other side.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claimS.

I claim:

1. In electric switch mechanism of the class described, a housing, cover means for said housing, a sliding plate provided on said cover means, switch terminals within said housing, blade mechanism carired on said sliding plate and movable independently of said plate into open and closed circuit position relative to said switch terminals and operating means positioned on the outside of said sliding plate and connected with said blade mechanism.

2. In a switch of the class described, a housing having av cover portion provided with an opening, a plate mounted for sidewise sliding movement relative to said cover portion and positioned to close said opening, terminals positioned within said housing, guide means connected with said sliding plate and movable sidewise therewith and switch blades supported on said guide means for movement toward and away from said terminals.

3. In a switch of the class described, a housing having a cover portion provided with an opening, a plate mounted for sidewise sliding movement relative to said cover portion and positioned to close said opening, terminals positioned within said housing, guide means secured to said sliding plate and movable sidewise therewith, switch blades supported by said guide means for sidewise movement with said plate and formovement on said guide means toward and away from said terminals, and switch blade operating the switch disclosed in 12 for one position of the switchv having a cover provided with an opening,

in open switch position and being in means connected with said switch blades and mounted on the exterior of said sliding plate.

I 4. In a switch of the class described, a housing having a cover provided with an opening, a sliding plate on the cover over said opening, guide means for the plate, a lever pivotally mounted on the outer side of the sliding plate, a Switchblade carrier member, guide means secured to the sliding plate and supporting the switch blade carrier member, link means connecting said switch blade carrier with said lever, a plurality of switch blades secured to said switch blade carrier, and a plurality of terminals disposed in pairs in said receptacle with said pairs positioned side by side in spaced apart relation whereby said blades may be selectively positioned for circuit closing engagement with respect to different pairs of terminal clips by sidewise movement of said sliding plate.

5. In a switch of the class described, a housing having a cover provided with an opening, a sliding plate on the cover over said opening, guide means for the plate, a lever pivotally mounted on the outer side of. the sliding plate and movable with the plate, an offset portion on the lever projecting toward the slidingplate, a fixed stop on the cover adjacent said offset portion, said offset portion being clear of said stop as respects sidewise movement and in alignment with said stop as respects pivotal movement of the lever when the lever is in open switch position and in line with said stop as respects sidewise movement and clear of said stop as respects pivotal movement of the lever when said lever is in closed switch position, a switch blade carrier member, guide means secured to the sliding plate and supporting the switch blade carrier member for movement toward and away from the sliding plate, means connecting said switch blade carrier with said lever, a plurality of switch blades secured to said switch blade carrier, and a plurality of terminals disposed in pairs in said receptacle in the path of movement of said switch blades.

6. In a switch of the class described, a housing a sliding plate on the cover over said opening, guide means for the plate, a lever pivotally mounted on the outer side of the sliding plate, an oilset portion on the lever projecting toward the sliding plate, a fixed stop on the cover adjacent said ofiset portion, said ofiset portion being clear of said stop as respects sidewise movement when said lever is line with said stop as respects sidewise movement when said lever is in closed switch position, a switch blade carrier member, guide means secured to the sliding plate and supporting the switch blade car-- rier member, link means'connecting said switch blade carrier member with said lever, a plurality of switch blades secured to said switch blade carrier member, and a plurality of terminals disposed in pairs in said receptacle with said pairs positioned side by side in spaced apart relation whereby said blades may be selectively positioned for circuit closing engagement with respect to different pairs of terminal clips by sidewise movement of said sliding plate.

'7. In a switch of the class described, a housing having a cover portion provided with an opening, a sliding plate positioned on the inner side of said cover portion over said-opening, means guiding said sliding plate for movement sidewise relative to said housing, a bracket secured to the outer side of said sliding plate and extending through the opening in the cover, a lever pivotally connected with said bracket, an oflset portion projecting sidewise from the pivoted end of said lever, a stop member on the cover positioned for engagement with said oifset portion when the lever is in closed position and clear of said offset portion when the lever is in open position, a switch blade carrier member, guide means secured to said sliding plate and supporting said switch blade carrier for closing and opening movement toward and away from said sliding plate and for sidewise shifting movement along with said sliding plate, means conmeeting said switch blade carrier with said lever, a plurality of switch blades secured to said switch blade carrier, base means of insulating material mounted in the bottom of said housing, and a plurality of terminal clips on said base means arranged in pairs with said pairs positioned side by side in spaced apart relation whereby said blades may be selectively positionedfor circuit closing engagement with respect to different pairs of terminal clips by sidewise movement of said sliding plate.

8. In a switch of the class described, a housing having a cover portion provided with an opening, a sliding plate positioned on the inner side of said cover portion over said opening, means guiding said sliding plate for movementsidewise relative to said housing, a bracket secured to the outer side of said sliding plate and extending through the opening in the cover, a lever pivotally con nected with said bracket, an onset-portion pro- J'ecting sidewise from the pivoted end of said lever, a stop member on the cover positioned for engagement with said offset portion when the lever is in closed position and clear of said offset portion when the lever is in open position, a switch blade carrier member, guide means secured to said sliding plate and supporting said blade carrier member for closing and opening movement toward and away from said sliding plate and for sidewise shifting movement along with said sliding plate, a link connected with said blade carrier member and extending outwardly through said sliding plate, quick break mechanism connecting said link with said lever, a plurality of switch blades secured to said blade carrier member, base means of insulating material mounted in the bottom of said housing, and a plurality of terminal Y clips on said base means arranged in pairs with said pairs positioned side by side in spaced apart relation whereby said blades may be selectively positioned for circuit closing engagement with respect to difierent pairs of terminal clips, by sidewise movement of said sliding plate.

9. In an electric safety switch of the class described, a receptacle, a cover on said receptacle, a plate slidable with respect to said cover, and having a plurality of operative positions, a switch operating lever pivotally mounted on said plate, said lever having a closed switch position substantially parallel to the cover and an open switch position at an angle to said cover and stop means on the cover positioned clear of the lever as respects swinging movement of said lever and in the path of said lever as respects sliding movement of saidplate when the plate is in one of its operative positions and the lever is in closed switch position.

10. In an electric safety switch of the class described, a receptacle, a cover for said receptacle, a plate slidably mounted on the cover, a switch lever pivoted on said plate and movable between an open switch and a closed switch position, an oilset portion on said switch lever positioned for swinging movement in close proximity to said plate, and rigid stop means on the cover positioned in the path of sidewise movement of said offset portion for a closed switch position of the lever and in the path of swinging movement of said ofl'set portion for an open switch position of said lever.

. CARROLL D. HEPLER. 

